Palazzo Dama Hotel

Dating back to the 19th-century, Palazzo Dama is anything but a stuffy royal residence these days. Yes: It's an imposing gilded-age beauty when glimpsed from the outside, and interiors still feel fittingly grand. However, the style here -- equal parts colorful Art Deco and moody contemporary trends -- is only part of the hotel's story. While Palazzo Dama attracts a refined crowd during the week -- we spotted more mature travelers and families tucking into breakfast and stepping out for business meetings during our 2018 visit -- on the weekends it's quite lively. Part of the hotel's social scene consists of its opulent pisco bar, with its sumptuous velvet interiors, and its Peruvian restaurant -- neither is particularly common in heavily traditional Rome. But on the weekends that atmosphere is amplified by the hotels basement nightclub, which draws a steady stream of locals and runs well into the night. It's the kind of hotel that's equal parts social destination and tranquil escape, so it will pay to time your visit right depending on the kind of stay you prefer.

Palazzo Dama is well located for travelers who want to be near the tourist fray, but not smack in the middle of it. That doesn't necessarily mean the area is calm, though, as a busy road and side street sit next to the hotel and traffic is pretty brutal all day. Even so, rooms are fairly well insulated against the noise. The banks of the Tiber River are essentially next door as well, and it's only a five-minute walk or so to the edge of the posh Prati District. It's less than five minutes in the opposite direction to Piazza del Popolo, with its stunning monumental architecture. You'll also find the Flaminio Metro station at Piazza del Popolo for connections to the Vatican Museums and Termini Station in around 15 minutes. To the south of the hotel is the chic Campo Marzio district, with its luxury boutiques and busy Via del Corso. The Spanish Steps are a 15-minute walk from the hotel, as are Piazza Navona and the Pantheon. Budget around 50 minutes or so to reach Fiumicino Airport by metro and train, and about the same amount of time by taxi, depending on traffic. 

The rooms here are some of the largest and brightest to be found in this part of Rome. That's in part due to the towering windows -- holdovers from the hotel's days as a palace -- that flood the rooms with natural light. However, a mix of vintage and contemporary details do their fair share to make the spaces even more attractive. These include hardwood floors, velvet Japenese screen-inspired headboards, colorful wainscoting, and bold modern photography on the walls. Patterns and colors skew neutral, with sage green and gold making frequent appearances as well.

Features are fairly numerous and expected for an upscale property. They include minibars, Smart TVs, air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and Nespresso machines (though, sadly, you'll have to pay for the coffee you consume and it's expensive). Suites are available with even sharper decor and extras like spacious landscaped terraces. While soundproofing is fairly good, traffic is bad in the area and light sleepers should request rooms on the back of the hotel. Additionally, you may hear some nightclub noise on the weekends. Bathrooms are beautiful, with marble mosaic tiling and details like rainfall showers. Acqua di Parma toiletries come standard -- a nice high-end perk. 

The hotel has space for a variety of leisure activities, ranging from mild to wild. That starts with the outdoor pool, which is a true rarity in central Rome. It's beautifully landscaped and surrounded by plenty of seating. Poolside service is available, though keep in mind that you will hear a bit of traffic noise -- you're in Rome, after all. Indoors, you'll find both a Peruvian restaurant and a pisco bar. Both attract locals for drinks and fare that are entirely uncommon in Rome, where most dining options hew to Italian traditions. Breakfast is served in the mornings for hotel guests, but isn't included in rates. On Friday and Saturday nights, the hotel's basement nightclub opens and draws lines of locals and tourists. Yes, the noise does travel a bit inside of the hotel. There's also a small fitness room in the basement with modern cardio equipment and a few free weight options. Wi-Fi is free at the hotel, and the front desk acts as a concierge.